Today we are launching a new Member feature and making a shift in the way that we deal with deleted posts.
Before describing the changes, we want to reiterate our ultimate goal. iHub’s rules pertaining to member conduct and availability of member features is to increase signal and dilute noise while maintaining forums that welcome and encourage all points of view. Bona fide dialog concerning investments is deserving of open discussion and debate of both similar and opposing views. Investors reading and engaging in such discussion should appreciate the benefit derived from those expressing views and opinions contrary to their own. As investors ourselves, we value the differences when it comes to contrary investment opinions be they bullish, bearish or neutral. Inclusion over exclusion will always be favored on our stock-specific boards for those Users who are civil and comply with our rules of conduct.
Okay, enough of the ribbons and wrapper, let’s get to the good stuff inside.
Our past practice has been that members should PM a site Admin to request the review of removal of their post(s), assuming they were aware their post(s) had been deleted. All Members will now find a new tab on their Tools page, called “My Removed Posts” which will list all of their messages, made in the past week, that are currently hidden from public view. From this page, the author will have the opportunity to see their post and the reason given for it's removal.
After re-considering the content of their post and ensuring that it is in compliance with the Terms of Use, the author will have the option to request a review of the post’s removal if they still believe it was removed in error.
Requests for review are submitted into a queue in the order received. One view of the queue is site-wide and is available to Mod Squad and Admins. (MS, you can access it through the new "Mod Squad" link in your navigation menu.)
The review request and comments are also available to Moderators, Mod Squad, and Admins on each board through the Manage link. This view will show only board-specific Review Requests.
If anyone restores the message it is removed from all queues including the individual's “My Removed Posts".
Although many people can review and act upon these requests, only an Admin can "close" a review request that has not resulted in the post being restored. If an Admin made the deletion, or reviewed it without restoring (thus closing it), it will continue show up in the author’s "My Removed Posts". However; there will not be a link to request a review.
The combination of the board Moderators, Mod Squad and Admins all actively monitoring these queues should result in the timely review of removed posts that are contested by the author. It should be noted that Moderators cannot reverse actions taken by Mod Squad or Admins, and Mod Squad cannot reverse actions taken by Admins.
Why are we doing this?
Review of removed posts is a daunting task, to say the least, and all the more so because we endeavor to review them in as timely a manner as possible. This massive use of our resources occurs day in and day out, despite the fact that over the past year over 93% of removed posts remained so after review.
This new system is an effort to streamline communication between Members and Admins along with getting deletions reviewed more quickly. By enabling Members to take more ownership in the review of their own removed posts and simultaneously providing more consistent and structured visibility to removed posts to a broader group of reviewers, we believe there will be improved and timely focus on that 7% of removed posts that have historically been restored. We expect this percentage will diminish through better visibility and improved tools like this for Members, Moderators and our Mod Squad.
Through various means we will continue to monitor removals, restores, and overall activity in aggregate and can and will use that information to ensure the proper use of the features made available to all Members.
Some final points:
• It is important for Moderators and Mod Squad to use the most accurate “reason” when removing a post. If there is more than one TOU violation involved, use the most obvious one.
• Members should avoid filing frivolous requests for review. If your post was removed because it contained a TOU violation, your recourse is to cease including content in your posts that violate the rules of the site. Do not file a Request for Review.
• Moderators should not remove posts that do not violate the iHub Terms of Use.
• Use of the “Author Request” reason for removing posts should be kept to an absolute minimum, and should never be used to mask another legitimate reason for removal.
• As is the case with all site usage, any Member who abuses this system will be subject to administrative action including but not limited to loss of access to various features and privileges.
Like all new features and changes in our operating policies and procedures, we expect a few bumps in the road will occur that will require some changes. It is going to take some time for all members and Moderators to become familiar with these new features. Please be patient and let this new approach work to our collective benefit. Let’s also keep the lion’s share of our attention where it belongs: on making well-informed, prudent, and profitable investment decisions!
The iHub Team
